Doris June (White) Mason
1925-2013
Doris June (White) Mason, 88, passed from this life Saturday, June 1, 2013 at LaVerna Village, Savannah, Missouri after a long illness. June was born on February 2, 1925 to Webster and Irene (Harness) White of Clarksdale, Missouri. June White graduated eighth grade from the Pleasant Grove School, a one-room school east of Clarksdale and from Clarksdale High School in 1943. That same year she entered the Cadet Nurses Corps and the Missouri Methodist Hospital Nursing School in St. Joseph. After graduation as a registered nurse (RN) in 1946, she worked at the Missouri Methodist Hospital and at Sisters Hospital as a ward and then “private duty” nurse until 1966. Then from 1967 until 1980, June started a second career in school nursing at Neely, Everett and Horace Mann Schools in the St. Joseph School District and served on the Board of Directors for the R.L.D.S. World Church Adoption Agency. Prior to illness, she was active in the Community of Christ at the Penn Street Congregation, Abundant Life Center and later attended Seventeenth Street congregation. She had served as choir member, Women’s Director, and Bereavement coordinator. June was also a 33-year cancer survivor. June was preceded in death by her parents; husband, David W. Mason, Sr.; infant children Daniel and Diane; brother and sister-in-law Lloyd and Marilyn White of Savannah, Missouri; and an infant granddaughter, Marianne Rebecca Mason. Survivors: son David W. Mason, Jr. (Lora) of St. Joseph; daughter Gloria June (Mason) Martin (Joe) of Lawrenceville, Georgia; grandchildren Katya (Mason) Woolard of Kansas City, Missouri and Andrew L. Mason (Chandra) of Lenexa, Kansas; nieces and nephews Kathy Meehan (Dennis) of Kansas City, Missouri, Stuart White (Pat) of Rosendale, Missouri, Steven White (Julie) of Savannah, Missouri, and Jana Ruoff (Harold) of Savannah, Missouri. A funeral and celebration of her life will be held 1:00 P.M. Tuesday, Abundant Life Center. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Monday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory, where friends may call after 5:00 P.M. Monday. Mrs. Mason will be removed from the funeral home to arrive at the church one hour prior to the service. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.
Robert Gene Powell
1921-2013
Robert Gene Powell, 91, St. Joseph, Missouri died peacefully Friday, May 31, 2013 at a local healthcare facility. He was born in Denton, Kansas on December 11, 1921 at his grandparents’ home and then resided in Agency, Missouri for seven years before moving to St. Joseph, Missouri. He was the son of Elmer and Gladys Powell. He graduated from Lafayette High School in 1939. He attended St. Joseph Junior College before enlisting in the Naval Aviation program in WWII. He was commissioned in 1944 and his Naval Career encompassed 22 years before retiring. His initial occupation was in two grocery stores before beginning 44 years of service with the St. Joseph Light and Power Company, where he retired in 1984 as Senior Accountant. During his tenure with that company, he attended five years at Platt-Guard Business School at night school. It was at that company that he met and married Doris June (Daisy) Atkins and having been faithfully married for 63 years. From that marriage two children were born, Nancy Wilson of St. Joseph and a son, Rodney Powell of Vail, Colorado, both whom he was very proud of. In 1928, he started playing the violin and did so for 57 years before setting it aside. During those 57 years, he played in three Christian churches; St. Joseph Symphony Orchestra; the St. Joseph Symphony Orchestra for 12 years; Benedictine College for 12 years; while flying in the daytime during WWII, at night he would play in a night club band in Corpus Christie, Texas before returning home to St. Joseph, where he continued with the light company. Music was his prime love of life. He was quite active in both professional and cultural organizations. He was a member of the St. Joseph Optimist Club; both the St. Joseph Junior and Senior Chamber of Commerce; was quite active in the United Fund, both company and citywide; Treasurer of the Town Hall Center, where he signed the check for the President of the Institute of Management Accounting (Local Chapter); he prepared Senior Citizens Income Taxes for 11 years (post retirement years); advisor for the Junior Achievement Program. Past President Performing Arts Club. His Masonic Association was Past Master of Saxton Lodge; Past Master of two Scottish Rite bodies resulting in KCCH honor man; Moila Shrine Club; 50 year member of those bodies; Legion of Honor; Hi-Twelve Club. His post military associations consisted of Area Chairman of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve where he was recently honored with the Life time Achievement Award from Department of Defense; awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal by Governor Carnahan; was honored by allowing to lay a wreath on the Unknown Soldiers grave in 1992. He was honored by the Missouri House of Representatives in April 1985 for having an honorable and distinguished life through the efforts of Representative Don Randell. He was a Past Elder of the Wyatt Park Christian Church but the greatest accomplishment of his life is that he has read the Bible (both Old and New Testament) 22 times (was on the 23rd) without knowingly missing a night in 72 years. This was realized by his friends reading it to him while in surgery or otherwise unable to read it himself. Mr. Powell was a member of Wyatt Park Christian Church. He was preceded in death by his parents; and wife, Doris J. Powell. Survivors: daughter, Nancy Wilson (Steve); son, Rodney Powell; and step-brother Curtis Pettigrew (Marion). The family would like to thank the staff of Vintage Gardens North for their excellent care, especially his special friend Loyal Oxley Smith. Services: 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Interment Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Monday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory, where friends may call after 5:00 P.M. Monday. Flowers are appreciated and for those wishing to make a contribution, the family requests they be made to Missouri Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve or Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons’ Research. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.
Garold Lavelle Brown, Sr.
1950-2013
Garold Lavelle Brown, Sr., 62, Ravenwood, Missouri passed away Saturday, June 1, 2013 at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born July 9, 1950 to William Harold and Olive Margaret (Crenshaw) Brown. He married Sharon Brand, May 16, 1968 in Hopkins, Missouri. Lavelle proudly served in the Army during the Vietnam War. He had been a member of the World Wide Church of God. He enjoyed bowling, playing bingo, writing poetry and spending time with family and friends. Lavelle graduated from Platt College and worked at LACEDE Chain for over 20 years. Lavelle was preceded in death by his brother, Eugene Brown; son-in-law, Chuck Ebrecht; and nephew, Daniel Joseph Brown. Survivors: wife, Sharon Brown of the home; parents, William and Olive Brown; son, Gary Brown of Ravenwood, Missouri; daughter, Tisha Maupin and husband Alex of Skidmore, Missouri; grandchildren, Cassie, Kade, and Keevin Maupin and Amanda Brown; sister, Elaine Brown and fiancé David Jerde; and brothers, Larry Brown and wife Carol and Danny Brown. Lavelle was fun loving and loved to joke around. He was well liked and will be sorely missed. Services: 1:00 P.M. Wednesday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.